INITIATION INTO GANGS TAKING PLACE IN SCHOOLS

NGOWANE – Initiation into gangs, in particular the notorious 26 and 28 members, is now taking place in schools.

This was revealed by Hhohho Regional Commissioner Simangele Motsa, who represented the national commissioner (NATCOM) of police during the Special Police Sunday Service hosted by former Senator Bishop Mavovo Mkhonto at Ngowane Alamathiya Church in Zion. Motsa called upon parents to monitor their children’s activities and behaviour, so as to early identify those undergoing  initiation into gangs and deal with the situation beforehand. She was unpacking the prevalent crimes that have gripped society and further appealed for assistance from the brethren in the fight against crime.

“As a parent, you must constantly monitor your child. Those who are undergoing initiation into the 26 and 28 gangs, it is a requirement that the number of the gang they are joining is inscribed on their bodies. Once you note that your child has that inscription, know very well that they will kill a person, as it is another requirement of the initiation,” said Motsa.
She urged parents to also pay attention on how their children walked as she mentioned that a slant walk (for boys) was a sign of becoming a criminal. Motsa said it was important for parents to also search their children’s schoolbags as many now carried weapons to school. “Our visits to various church denominations for Police Sunday services like this one, are within the framework of community outreach activities we are engaged in as a police service.

Aim

“The aim of these activities, among others, is to bring police services closer to communities, and to make people aware of crimes that are problematic in the country and how police can be assisted in bringing them under control,” said Motsa. She said crimes they wished to bring to the attention of the brethren were domestic abuse and violence cases, drug dealing and cultivation, human trafficking and people smuggling as well as theft of non-ferrous metals (copper) and livestock. “We are also noting with concern the culture of violence that is taking hold of society. This culture is reflected in the proliferation of cases of violence manifesting themselves in various ways, including passion killing and brutal murders, sexual assaults, child abuse and domestic violence, as well as numerous other forms of violence,” she said.

The regional commissioner said drug cultivation and dealing was also one of the problematic crimes in the country as a whole. She said it had been proven that proceeds from drugs were known to fund the operations of terrorist organisations. “It is also closely associated with crimes such as possession of illegal firearms and murder. There has been countless cases of violence emanating from drug deals gone sour. As a church and society, we must stand up against people who are involved in drug dealing and feed such poisonous substance to our children,” she said. Motsa said this could be done by reporting to the police and praying for the repentance of all those involved in the practice. Another challenge she said the country was faced with was that of copper theft.

Steal

She said this form of crime was prevalent in remote rural areas, where criminal elements had ample time to cut and steal cables containing copper wire without being easily noticed and detected. On another note, the regional commissioner warned that they were now planning to arrest those who negligently placed the poisonous Master 900 pesticide. Motsa said too many lives had been lost due to the deadly chemical, which most people use to commit suicide. She reported that at the Pigg’s Peak Police Station, every weekly report indicated that at least three people had died after consuming Master 900. She asked the church members to safely keep the chemical and out of children’s reach. She said not too long ago, a boy died after drinking water from a container, which contained Master 900. She said the boy had been playing soccer and unknowingly fetched water to drink using the container, which contained the deadly chemical.

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